“Excerpts
for a new book are like trailers for movies, and
Tina’s
excerpt of Alysa of the Fields certainly
whets my desire to read the entire book. I read
Tina’s excerpt for
[audio book] audition purposes, but the high
school teacher in me could only think, ‘What a
perfect book for teaching.’

Students
seldom see the value of ‘imagery’ in writing,
and yet Tina’s
first few pages set the fantasy scenes so
perfectly with powerful imagery...fodder for
proving that imagery not only sparks our
creative minds, but lets us truly ‘see’
setting...I particularly liked her clever
exposition revealed through character
interaction, rather than narration...and my
special focus in discussions of ‘little life
lessons’...the choices characters make...the
roads not taken as we follow Alysa’s
journey...in just reading the excerpt I felt
motivated to want to teach again after several
years out of the classroom.

I hope
educators read this book and see its
value, as I do. We need good science
fiction that appeals to all ages.

I could teach this to ninth graders as
well as seniors...so many levels for
discussions. Not only do I want to read the
entire book, I want to read any book written by
Tina Howe.”

Suzy McGee, retired high school teacher, Akron,
Ohio

Fanart by Meredith Gaylo

“Alysa
of the Fields took me right out of my world and
square into hers! A terrific journey!
An important
book
for our time…”

Kathie Christensen, Producer,
Continuum Pictures, Las
Vegas, NV

“Your book is the best
book I have ever read in my life!!!!!! I can’t wait till
your second book comes out!! I even posted when it is
coming out on my mirror!!!!!”

Tommi Lynn
Schieder, student

“A thoroughly
engaging novel that I couldn't put down. The
characters felt very real and I could really see
what Alysa and Szaren were experiencing. A very
good read for youth and elder readers
alike...plenty for all walks of life. It's an
interesting take on social order and coming to
terms with growing up and change in and around
one's life. Alysa of the Fields feels
like a true labor of love. Thanks Tina!”

Cindy Scott, Corning,
NY

“I enjoyed reading your
book and I found it captivating. It should certainly
have a great appeal to young adults interested in
adventure, danger and just the right slant on romance. I
would recommend it to young adults as well worth their
time. Good luck on your next book.”

Greg Lamb,
Corning, NY

“I just finished Alysa
of the Fields; thank you for a great book and the
start of an excellent series. I’m a little old for young
peoples books (66), but find that I enjoy them as much
or even more than the adult stuff I generally read. I’m
already a fan of Cornelia Funke and her series, now I’m
adding you to the list!”

Ken Burket,
Horseheads, NY

“Tina, excellent book. I
will be waiting for the next leg of the journey.”

Rita
Maury, Waverly, NY

“I enjoyed the story. It
was inspiring and shows what can be done if one feels
enough passion to see it through to the end of the
chapter that they are going through in their lives. This
book gives us what I feel the world needs...faith in
your soul calling. Thanks for writing it Tina. I was
inspired by your words!! I can’t
wait for the second one.”

Dawn
Gilliard, owner, Jivin’ Java, Waverly, NY

“I believe
you have in you the capability of being on a
literary level with the likes of Ursula K. LeGuin - your book was very
entertaining and am anxiously looking forward to its
sequel. I can see a
Nebula Award in your future!!”

Ray Gavin,
retired production supervisor, Corning, NY

“I enjoyed
Alysa of the
Fields very much; it’s practically all I could think
about after reading it. I am looking forward
to Part II. I read as much as I had time for each
night... I laughed, I cried and felt a great pride for Alysa for being so strong-willed. your book has provoked
many feelings in me, which can only mean that it has all
the right ‘ingredients’ (pain, joy, love, pride, etc).
Keep up the good work!”

Suzanne
Tobey, Corning, NY

“On Monday I picked up
your book that I had received for Christmas and got
started on my reading. I finished your book in three
days! From cover to cover I couldn’t stop reading!! I
absolutely loved the book and all of its characters! I
love the ideas that your book portrayed and I could
really connect with trials of the young heroine, Alysa.
Your descriptiveness throughout the book was so
captivating! Almost like I have seen Xunar-kun for
myself and have walked through the settlement at High
Point! Every emotion that Alysa went through, I did
also. I cried and laughed and was afraid and was angry
at times. The book’s ending was exactly as I was hoping
it would be! I can’t wait for the next one!! As soon as
I find out it’s available I’ll be sure to get my hands
on a copy!”

Amy S., student, Corning, NY

“I have to
tell you that
Alysa of the Fields was wonderful. At first I
thought it was a story for a much younger reader (15-25) but as I read on, I couldn’t put the book
down. I can’t wait for book two. It’s funny, the last
sci-fi/fantasy book series I became addicted to was
Harry Potter. I see this series (Alysa of the Fields)
just as good if not better. Good work! Please
let me know when the next book is out. Thanks for a
great story.”

Frank Moscia, Wellsboro, PA

“I loved your book. I hope
you sell a bunch of them and write a sequel. I can’t
wait! I loved the story, and I could really see how you
used your training as an anthropologist in developing
the different cultures. Great story. It was hard to put
the book down. I think it’s a great story for adults as
well as teens.”

Linda LeBoutillier, Eagle, PA

“…many
people my age would enjoy this novel, as it ties
escapist fiction with issues of human nature.”

Meredith
G.,
student, Corning, NY

“I really enjoyed
reading this! It will make an excellent story for a teen
audience. The characters
really clicked with me.”

“You did a fine job on the first
book, but I can see your writing is maturing and you are
more comfortable as a writer. You showed your sense of
humor several times throughout the story, making the
story more entertaining and the characters more
life-like (though your character development was fine in
the first book, this enhances it). I also appreciated
your foreshadowing. As the book's mysteries were
revealed, I realized that you had provided clues. The
foreshadowing clues were subtle - like a GOOD mystery
writer.

Aside from the
rich world you created, you also present philosophies,
insight into how relationships work and so on. Since
Science Fiction is where most teens start reading, this
is a great service to them! Though at 55, I can
appreciate it, too! The genre might be Sci-Fi, but the
atmosphere is magical with all the vivid imaginary
creatures you have created, so it can easily be mistaken
as Fantasy. Great job! I eagerly await your next book!”

Art
Hofstetter, musician & retired IT

“I found the book very hard to put down. Tina does an
excellent job of crafting this new, ancient world and its peoples. I
would put this series in a class with Anne McCaffrey’s Pern
books.”

John G. Howland, IT networking, Montgomery, AL

“Tina’s book takes you on a
great journey. I loved the lakes and snow tunnels. I also appreciated
that the characters became friends and respected each other. I really
enjoy the fact that there will be other books of journeys to other
lands. Tina’s books are very hard to put down!”

Sandra Margeson, tech designer, Corning, NY

“The characters really came
into their own in Book Two and we learn much more about life on Xunar-kun.
The ending is riveting and I could not put the book down. I feel part of
the TrailFolk family and can’t wait for Book Three to see where their
adventures taken them!”

Janet Stafford, Horseheads, NY

“I liked the story-line and the
characters you’ve created. You built real personalities for these folks
and although they are fantasy people, places, animals and experiences,
they are compelling. I've truly enjoyed the experience of reading both
Books 1 and II, and am looking forward to Book III of your trilogy.”

Sharon DeHaas,
artist,
Athens, PA

“I could not put this book
down. A wonderful story, perhaps prophetical. Tina gives us drama,
adventure and a serious look at relationships as they’re and could be.”

Kathleen Richardson, writer, Corning, NY

“Lovely, real characters and
fun adventure. A nice progression from the coming of age story about
Alysa to a broader perspective about her changing world.”

Tracey Thompson, communications designer, Corning, NY

“I really liked this book. The story is great,
the characters are becoming real, the events suspenseful, and
I was left wanting more! I found that I wanted to read on and on. Thank you for the read! What's next!”

Rosemary
Stevens, co-author of
What My Family Needs to Know, Binghamton, NY